Device for relative angular setting of two units, preferably the inclination of a vehicle-seat back rest

Abstract

The invention concerns a device, preferably arranged for setting inclination of a backrest of a seat, primarily a vehicle seat, comprising components which are interconnected in pairs for mutual rotational movement and which are arranged to be associated with the back rest and the seat face, respectively, of the seat. Each component of the pair is formed with a gear rim, the rims positioned adjacent one another in mutual concentric relationship, with the rim teeth meshing with the teeth of a number of planet wheel pairs, the latter rolling in mesh with the associated gear rim, thus causing the two gear rims and their associated component of the joint to turn relatively to one another, and consequently the back rest of the seat to pivot with respect to the seat part.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for relative angular setting of two units, preferably the inclination of a back rest of a seat, particularly a vehicle seat, comprising components that are interconnected in pairs for mutual rotational movement, said components preferably being separate fitting components which are arranged to be associated with the back rest and a seat face, respectively, of the vehicle seat, characterized in that each component of said pair of integrated components is formed with a gear rim, each with a different number of teeth, said rims being positioned adjacent one another in mutual concentric relationship with the rim teeth meshing with a number of planet wheel pairs, wherein each pair comprises two planet wheels, said wheels likewise being positioned adjacent one another in mutual concentric relationship and being non-rotationally interconnected, the planet wheels being supported by a common support member, and an actuator arranged to move the planet wheels along their respective gear rim, whereby the rolling of the planet wheel/wheels in mesh with the associated gear rim causes the two gear rims and the associated components of the joint to turn with respect to one another and consequently the back rest of the vehicle seat to pivot with respect to the seat face. 
     
     
       2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the actuator is a hand wheel (16) which is non-rotationally connected to the planet-wheel support member. 
     
     
       3. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the planet wheels also mesh with a central sun wheel (12) which is drivingly connected to an actuator, the latter preferably being a hand wheel (14). 
     
     
       4. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the actuators (14, 16) associated with the planet wheel support members (10, 11) and with the sun wheel (12), respectively, may be made as two coaxial hand wheels, the wheel (14) connected with the sun wheel preferably being of smaller-diameter size with respect to, and located externally of, the hand wheel (16) connected with a planet wheel support member. 
     
     
       5. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the actuator is an electric motor (123) which by means of a drive gear (122) meshes with a gear rim (121) which is non-rotationally connected with the planet wheel support member (110, 111). 
     
     
       6. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each planet wheel is formed by a pair of separate toothed wheels having a common shaft and by a support and guide washer (335) positioned intermediate the toothed wheels and having a diameter exeeding that of the planet wheels (307, 308). 
     
     
       7. A device for relative angular setting of two units, preferably the inclination of a back rest of a seat, particularly a vehicle seat, comprising components that are interconnected in pairs for mutual rotational movement, said components preferably being separate fitting components which are arranged to be associated with the back rest and the seat face, respectively, of the vehicle seat, characterized in that each component of said pair of integrated components is formed with a gear rim, each with a different number of teeth, said rims being positioned adjacent one another in mutual concentric relationship with the rim teeth meshing with a number of planet wheel pairs, wherein each pair comprises two planet wheels, said wheels likewise being positioned adjacent one another in mutual concentric relationship and being non-rotationally interconnected, all planet wheels having the same number of teeth, the toothed wheels of the same pair having a different cog tooth module, the cog tooth module of the two gear rims corresponding to the cog tooth module of the planet wheel meshingly cooperating therewith while having a mutually different number of teeth, whereby the rolling of the planet wheel/wheels in mesh with the associated gear rim causes the two gear rims and the associated components of the joint to turn with respect to one another and consequently the back rest of the vehicle seat to pivot with respect to the seat face.